My friend, Mike, and I diverge on this issue. First of all, why presume permanent resident don't want citizenship? The statement is simply too sweeping.
On the other end of this stands an IRS and a nation perfectly willing to employ these folks in jobs no natural citizen will do anymore, but willing make the acquisition of citizenship a trial by hell. The hoops needed to become a citizen have not prevented the same government from taxing and forcing social security payments on these wage-earners. The Kahn/Davnie initiative falls short in only one area: the automatic granting of citizenship to permanent residents whose only "crime" is they were not born here. Of course, the state can't do this. Until recently citizenship meant renouncing all allegiance to their mother countries, in contrast to the dual citizenship recognized by most other nations for those of their citizens who come and go for a good share of their lives. The requirement that an citizen applicant must be able to speak fluent English is a serious financial and social hindrance for many. Barbara Ehrenreich, who placed herself in horrendously menial jobs in places throughout the country to get the gut level experience with which house cleaners, hotel workers, restaurant workers and other slave-wage earners, speaks eloquently on the subject of the working poor - many of whom are immigrants and permanent resident aliens. I paraphrase her here from her book, "Nickled and Dimed": it becomes clearer every minute that the foundations and other philanthropists have nothing on these workers. They are the great benefactors of our culture. These are the real givers, the real philanthropists in our midst. They prepare and clean up the food that nourish us only to sustain themselves with crumbs. They make the houses of the affluent sparkle in order to keep up the rent on their relative hovels and still feed their children. These are the ones whose toiling makes us able not to and they do it in hidden corners of the work-a-day world, unnoticed by most, but treated like scum by owner and supervisors and customers who view their jobs and their poverty as something to be ashamed of while we consume the fruits of their labors. These are the ones who subsidize our lives - no one else. And anything less than the ability to vote is taxation without representation. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul > From: "Michael Hohmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 11:43:31 -0500 > To: "Phyllis Kahn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: RE: [Mpls] Voting by Non-Citizens - by mail or in person > > Re: the Davnie/Kahn effort to pass legislation allowing permanent residents > (non-citizens) to vote in local elections (i.e. in Minneapolis), here's my > two-cents: > > If permanent residents (non-citizens) want to vote-- even in local > elections, let them become citizens; it's not that difficult and many > educational and social service organizations provide services to facilitate > the process. Local elections determine local political leadership, taxing > and spending priorities and decisions. If permanent resident, non-citizens, > aren't interested in becoming citizens, why should we be interested in > giving them voting rights? It's a two-way street; if they want equal > representation, let them take the steps necessary and become a citizen. > > Permanent residents (non-citizens) working in this country pay witholding > taxes and can collect social security upon retirement. I'd say they > benefit, roughly, to the same extent as citizens from other taxes paid. If > they feel slighted or cheated, they can become a citizen and vote on issues > of importance to them. And, speaking for myself, xenophobia has nothing to > do with my position on these matters. > > Citizenship and the associated right-to-vote imply a degree of allegiance to > our country and the fundamental principles that underlie our republic, i.e. > the Bill of Rights and the Constitution for starters. I don't feel that > non-citizens should, through voting-rights, have influence on social and > fiscal policy at the local level. You must be a citizen to hold office and > you should be a citizen to hold voting rights. Citizenship, what's it > worth? > > BTW, do we still teach citizenship in jr/sr high school in Mpls.? > > I urge all lawmakers to avoid the Davnie/Kahn path regarding voting rights. > > Michael Hohmann > Linden Hills > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:mpls-admin@;mnforum.org]On Behalf Of >> Phyllis Kahn >> Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 4:53 PM >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Subject: RE: [Mpls] Voting by Non-Citizens - by mail or in person >> >> >> Rep. Jim Davnie and I put in two bills to permit permanent residents >> (non-citizens) to vote in local elections. HF 2448 authorized it and HF >> 2453 permitted local governments to authorize it. We did not get >> hearings but will introduce them and try again next session. It requires >> a state constitutional amendment even for local elections. My guess is >> that the xenophobic factor statewide would have to come way down to pass >> either. But I will certainly try. >> >> Phyllis Kahn State Rep 59B > snip > > _______________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
